Bastrop Rams 2017 Preview

“Change” is a word all too familiar for the Bastrop Rams’ football team. After all, the 2017 Bastrop Rams seniors on the football team will see their fourth head coach in the past four years as Adrian Burnette inherits the head coach duties from Marcus Yanez, who like his predecessor Brad Bradshaw (in his second stint as head coach at Bastrop), was on the job for one season.

Even though the Rams’ head coach’s office might need to install a revolving door, Bastrop has made the Class 4A playoffs five consecutive seasons and nineteen out of the past twenty years so expectations remain the same for the 2017 Bastrop Rams – play hard and fast, win, and make a run in the playoffs.

The Rams’ leading rusher from 2016 also returns in senior running back Desi Holmes (5’4”, 145 pounds). Holmes rushed for 639-yards on 100 carries and 5 touchdowns including 3 games rushing for over 100-yards. Junior Kyrie Lawrence should provide some depth at running back. Lawrence had 31 carries for 157-yards with 1 touchdown in 2016.

Junior Tristen Bayless returns at kicker while junior Christian Smith will be the Rams’ punter. A.J. Fenderoy will be counted on to handle kickoff and punt return duties.

Bastrop will open its 2017 gridiron schedule on the road as the Rams will travel to New Orleans, LA to face the G.W. Carver Rams on Friday, September 1.

Weeks two and three will see the Rams at home as Bastrop host the Airline Vikings on Friday, September 8 and the Calvary Baptist Cavaliers on Friday, September 15.

Bastrop will hit the road for two games in weeks four and five. The Rams will travel to Richwood to face the Richwood Rams on Friday, September 22 and head south down US Highway 165 South to Alexandria to face the Holy Savior Menard Eagles on Friday, September 29.

Class 5A’s Brother Martin Crusaders will come to Bastrop on Friday, October 6 in what has been dubbed a “Pink Out” to support Breast Cancer survivors.

The Rams will have a bye in week seven before traveling to Winnsboro to open District 2-4A action at the Franklin Parish Patriots.

Bastrop will close out its 2017 regular and District 2-4A schedules with back-to-back home games against the West Ouachita Chiefs on Friday, October 27 which will be the Bastrop Homecoming Game and the Neville Tigers on Friday, November 3 which has been dubbed Senior Night.

* Bastrop had to forfeit the 2005 Class 4A State Championship due controversial ineligibility questions over players who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina, even though the Rams defeated Breaux Bridge at Shreveport’s Independence Stadium.